“The idea of ​​a mobile crèche is excellent”, the ideal solution for isolated villages in Drôme

The Beaufort-sur-Gervanne nano-crèche can accommodate between six and seven children under the age of two every day. The ideal solution for isolated villages where childcare options are not numerous. And when the little ones go to school, the nursery will move to another village.

A large green cube placed in the countryside. The structure stands out in this sector of Beaufort-sur-Gervanne where the stone houses cling to the hills. It is a prefabricated building of 70 m2 which houses a nano crèche. A room for changing babies, a dormitory, a pocket kitchen and toilets: nothing is missing here for the comfortable welcome of little ones.

Open since the start of the 2024 school year, this small nursery is changing the lives of parents in the heart of this remote area of ​​Drôme. This is the case for Patrick who has just dropped off his little girl who is a few months old. “This is very practical for a small town of 700 inhabitants. I have three children. The school is right next door, so it allows me to drop off all three children in the same area. Before, the two big ones were kept in Aouste-sur-Sy, the neighboring town, but there it is much more practical. It’s a formula well suited to parents in the area!“

Same opinion for Mathieu, another dad who comes to drop off his child. “Without this structure, we would have left it in the forest and relied on animals to take care of it…” he jokes. No, seriously, we should have called on a childminder but there are not many of them around here, we are in a remote area… The idea of ​​a mobile crèche is excellent, it adapts to births and needs of the territories.“

This nano crèche can accommodate up to 7 children, supervised by early childhood professionals. Previously the director, Alexia Donato, worked in structures where it was necessary to manage up to 80 children. Here she finds real working comfort. “The layout of the premises is well thought out, you don't have the feeling of being in a prefab. We are between two and three professionals working here every day, we can meet all the children's needs“.

The establishment of the crèche in a rural area is also full of advantages. “This allows us to go for walks with the little ones in the best conditions. And also to establish links with all the actors of local life“.

Installing a removable crèche in a rural area is a real challenge for maintaining populations in this living area of ​​1,500 inhabitants. This is what Jean Serret, president of the Val de Drôme en Biovallée community of communes, explains. “The mobile nature of this crèche allows us to move it to this or that location depending on the needs of early childhood care. The majority of people who settle here are young couples with children, the parents both work and their childcare needs must be met.“.

The nano crèche project carried out by the community of municipalities of Val de Drôme cost 320,000 euros: 70% less expensive than a permanent building. Today installed in Beaufort-sur-Gervanne, the structure could, tomorrow, migrate to other villages, according to the needs of the inhabitants.